Building a Writer’s Media Kit: An Overview for Authors and Professional Speakers

Are you a professional writer who wants to maximize your exposure to potential markets and publishers? Would you like to receive free advertising? Are you interested in boosting your image as a writer? Then you need a media kit.

What is a media kit?

A media kit is a “package” of information about you, your services, business, and writing skills and achievements. You can incorporate any number of elements that help promote you and provide relevant information about you and your services to editors, reporters, prospective clients, and others in the media. Even your readers will take a look at the information in your media kit. Do you want to know more about Sue Grafton, Tom Clancy, JK Rowling or Stephen King? Take a look at their media kits.

Here are some key items you could include in your professional writer’s media kit to make the most of any display or advertising scenario:

Your author photo

You absolutely must have at least one good passport photo (smile please) in your media kit. Another half-length shot of you “working” is also helpful.

A biography of the writer

You will also definitely need to include two or three biographies of yourself. One should be around 25 words long, another approx. 50 words and a third of 100 words or less. These are so that potential users can plug you into their programs or documents using the length and details that suit your application without having to pester you to edit their bio before they can use it.

clips

Let your light shine here. Show your talents. Include three to five of your best clips with relevant post data provided. (If you don’t have enough clips or want to break into a new specialty or genre, do your research and write one or two specialty clips and include them.

References from websites and blogs

You have a website or blog, right? Great, talk about it. Be sure to include the links in your media kit and all correspondence, as well as in your GIS (resource box).

Resume Writer or Resume Writer

In addition to your bio, you must provide a full resume or CV in your media kit. This document allows you to demonstrate his training and development as a writer. Here you can insert personal anecdotes and give your writing/publishing history in more detail than possible in a biography, cover letter or query.

publication list

If your posts are lengthy, tabulate them by genre, topic, or chronologically to provide quick-reference background information for the media, editors, reporters, etc.

Credentials

While formal writing studies are not necessarily a requirement for a writing career, access to some specializations often requires proof of some genre-related experience. So if you have an academic or technical degree, they can help you position yourself as an expert. Credentials may include academic degrees, professional workshops, seminars, conferences and courses, professional or trade association memberships, among others.

Testimonials / Comments

Needless to say, it never hurts to recount any positive reader or editorial feedback you’ve received about your work. Praise/recommendation and reference letters, comments, testimonials, and accolades can demonstrate your talent for reaching readers. They can also show your professionalism.

More about photos

It’s always helpful to have several good action photos available. Photos of you receiving an award or other recognition support press releases and background supporting text.

I am now originally from the Pennsylvania Dutch country in the US, but currently live and work in South America, so I am including several photos of various kinds (mostly taken by myself) of my hometown area to allow for visual support of my background information. One or more of them are frequently used by local and regional media.

Make your media kit available

Post your media kit on your website, mention its availability in inquiries, your blog, or submit it to media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, technical/trade organizations, chambers of commerce, agents, speaker bureaus, radio and TV stations, blogs and websites or as part of any public relations effort. Use your media kit to maximize your exposure to potential markets and publishers, get free publicity, and help enhance your image as a professional writer.